[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 73 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2001

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this is National Safe Boating 
Week. In the year 2000, over 72 million Americans participated in 
recreational boating activities. However, between 700 and 800 Americans 
will be killed in recreational boating accidents this year.
  It will take a continued effort by State Boating Law Administrators, 
Manufacturers, boating safety educators, and the many other 
organizations involved in boating to decrease the number of Americans 
killed every year on our waterways.
  Today, I would like to ask the cellular telephone industry in the 
United States to join this effort by designating ``*CG'' as the 
emergency response number that boaters can use in an emergency to make 
free calls to the nearest Coast Guard unit.
  Over the past decade, more and more Americans are carrying cellular 
telephones wherever they are--including on their boat. I am pleased to 
recognize that companies such as Verizon and Alltel wireless allow many 
of their customers to call the Coast Guard using *CG. However, the use 
of *CG is not universal. For example, in Woods Hold, Massachusetts, *CG 
will reach the Coast Guard if you are using a Verizon phone. However, 
if you happen to be using a Sprint Cellular phone you reach a recording 
that says ``invalid code entered''; on Cellular One and Nextel you get 
``call cannot be completed as dialed.'' Even within a singular cellular 
telephone company, designation of *CG for emergency communications is 
not universal. For example, Verizon has *CG connections in Seattle and 
Massachusetts, but not in Norfolk, Virginia.
  Mr. Speaker, when a boater is in distress they need to be able to 
reach the local Coast Guard unit as soon as possible. They may not have 
a VHF radio on board and the only way to reach the Coast Guard is by 
using their cellular telephone. Time is of the essence, and they can't 
wait to go through the operator to reach the nearest Coast Guard unit.
  Today I would like to call on the U.S. cellular phone industry to 
designate *CG as the nationwide phone number for boaters to reach the 
Coast Guard during emergencies using cell phones and to ask them to 
program their networks to route these calls to the nearest appropriate 
Coast Guard facility. They too can join the coalition of people in the 
United States striving to save boaters lives.
  The Coast Guard has a template agreement that they have been 
successfully implemented around the country. Once all of these 
companies are on board, we can initiate a boating safety campaign to 
educate the boating public about the universal access to *CG during 
emergencies.
  Please help us save lives by establishing a national *CG system.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit for the record an article about Version 
Wireless use of *CG in the Seattle area.

             Verizon Wireless Links Boaters to Coast Guard


               Don't Cast Off Without Your Wireless Phone

       Seattle, May 2 /PRNewswire/--With the official arrival of a 
     new boating season on May 5, Verizon Wireless reminds boaters 
     that it offers its customers a direct connection to the U.S. 
     or Canadian Coast Guard by dialing *CG (*24) from their 
     Verizon Wireless phone. There is no access fee to use *CG. 
     Airtime is deducted from customers' calling plan bundle.
       ``While VHF-FM maritime channel 16 should be used as the 
     primary means for reporting an emergency,'' said Kelly 
     DeLaney, Verizon Wireless regional president, ``our extensive 
     marine coverage gives boaters another reliable means of 
     communication while on the water that increases convenience 
     and enhances safety and security. Boaters can use *CG to get 
     help if there is an emergency, or to pass along information 
     about a navigational hazard that could endanger boats.''
       Just as wireless users are encouraged to exercise caution 
     when driving and dialing onshore, boaters should keep safety 
     in mind when navigating and dialing.
       To recognize National Safe Boating Week, May 19 through May 
     25, Verizon Wireless asks all boaters to think ``safety,'' by 
     following these tips:
       Safe boating is your first priority. Make sure your phone 
     is positioned where it is easy to see and reach.
       Use the speed dialing features on your phone to program 
     frequently called numbers.
       Let your wireless network's voice mail pick up your calls 
     when you're unable to answer the phone. If you're heading 
     into a navigational hazard, it's easy to retrieve your 
     messages later.
       Use your wireless phone to notify those on shore of your 
     whereabouts and destination.

     

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